Description:
Framed hand-colored print of "A Riding Horse" after a drawing by Henry William Bunbury (1750-1811), the English caricaturist, published by J. Bretherton (1750-1799), a publisher/printer, printmaker, and dealer/auction house, of No.134 New Bond Street, London, and inscribed in ink, "Published 23rd March 1780." The British Musuem has several impressions of this print produced on February 15, 1780. After completing his studies at Cambridge University, Bunbury began to draw caricatures and other comic subjects, the first of which were etched and published in 1771. Bunbury then quickly rose to become one of the greatest satirical artists of the day with his etchings such as the series titled, "Hints to Bad Horsemen." He also became close friends with the great artist, Thomas Rowlandson, who later engraved many of Bunbury's designs. The print depicts the interior of a riding-school with a number of men riding round in a circle; those in the foreground ride from right to left, those in the background from left to right. The riding-master stands in the centre, pointing with hand and cane, and grinning at a short fat man in a clerical wig who is running across the room, alarmed at the horses. A short obese man in back-view on the extreme right, who is about to mount his horse (right), is identified by a contemporary note as Captain Grose, and next him is a man with a grotesque impression of alarm riding a plunging horse. Among the riders are two with clerical wigs. One horse is galloping, out of control, the others are quietly ambling round. Two sides of a high rectangular room or hall are visible; in each wall are two high arch-topped windows.
Tags:
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